How to avoid ‘tyre shock’

It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of buying yourself a new or used car and focus simply on the brand, colour or style of your new ride. One crucial factor people often overlook is the tyres, which are one of the most important elements of the car when it comes to safety, writes David Basha.

Checking to see if the tyres have enough tread on them to last driving out of the car yard is one thing, but you’ll also need to check how much a new set will cost. When the time comes to head into the tyre store and get a new set of tyres, the price tag may be more than you expected.

This is commonly referred to in the industry as ‘tyre shock’, which not only leaves the person feeling empty, but their wallet as well. In some cases you could be paying up to $1,000 for a single tyre, compared to the average price of approximately $400 for a set. For example, low profile performance tyres are more expensive than your run of the mill, stock standard wheel.

There are a couple of ways to prevent the dreaded diagnosis of tyre shock and it mainly comes down to being diligent. Always check out your new or used car’s tyres and be mindful of what they can cost to replace before you buy. If not it could cost you a lot more than you originally thought.

We also suggest looking at alternative tyre brands other than those that are original equipment as long as they contain the same specifications. They can provide the same performance at a much more economical price.

What a lot of people don’t consider is how much a new set of tyres will set them back. By being pro-active about your search, you can potentially save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your car.

To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.